Healthy Homes Assessment Plimmerton

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords now have to ensure that their Plimmerton rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rental properties must be completely certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas that are covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

• Draught Stopping
• Heating
• Insulation
• Ventilation
• Moisture Ingress & Drainage

We will evaluate your rental property to check whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any work which requirements to be completed and offer the report with all the information required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes associated fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental properties as well as fully certified to evaluate both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Since the 1st July of 2021, once a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Plimmerton rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be finished within 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, if a new or renewed tenancy is signed on the Plimmerton rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done within 90 days.

Failure to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Additionally, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement there could be an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant may request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they reside in. If the property manager does not provide the required information within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant will receive an infringement notification and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s an additional fine of up to $900 for landlords and property managers providing a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is whoever is listed on the tenancy agreement as the one who is leasing the property out which could be the name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Compliance Statement requirements to be current when the tenancy contract is executed, and it should be kept updated through the tenancy period as related work is completed.

It’s also important to be aware that landlords who manage several rental properties can face additional fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are reserved only for serious breaches. Landlords with six or more properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to comply with the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket and result in huge fines, in addition to still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t risk your rental property Call us today and ask us to conduct an house assessment performed on your rental property.

Get the full description of this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

About 1 in 3 households homes in New Zealand and Plimmerton, and research shows us that these rental houses are likely to be older, colder, have less efficient heating, and generally tend to be lower standard than those owned by owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes are linked to negative well-being outcomes, particularly for illnesses like colds, asthma, as well as heart diseases. Furthermore, people who reported four or more major house quality problems often experience lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental wellbeing.

Enhancing the standard of Plimmerton rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health, and lessen the interruption to learning, work and daily life due to illnesses. Your investment will be secured from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less costs of maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a listing of minimum and specific requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught stopping in Plimmerton rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss receiving a Plimmerton Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Plimmerton

Draughts may lead to dropping temperatures within houses. A draughty house is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught can be felt through gaps that are too large or holes that it requirements to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or an unobstructed draught coming from a gap or hole, then it is likely to be a gap or hole that needs sealing in the way you can. Large cracks and gaps should be permanently stopped. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out into the house require to be sealed. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it can cause draughts and should be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure such draughts are eliminated whenever imaginable.

There is no require to cover up holes or gaps in the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for movement of the building as the home warms and cools so that they can still be opened and closed rather than sticking. We will check every window and door as part of your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Find the complete specifications for the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Adequate heaters are important to ensure well-being houses

Heating Plimmerton

Plimmerton rental properties should have a permanent source of heating which can warm the largest or main living room to at least 18degC, even during the winter coldest days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental outlook.

The source of heat requirements for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable) with at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity and have the minimum required heating capacity in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to check if the permanent heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to "top up" by adding a second heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters, such as the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options under The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is an electric heater or heat pump, it needs to be equipped with an thermostat. This makes your heating more consistent and effective. For most properties, larger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. In certain situations, like small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater may suffice.

If the main living room is already equipped with a fixed heating source such as a heat pump, then it could require an upgrade to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to meet the standard since they’re either not effective, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unsafe to run.

Check out the complete details regarding the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Plimmerton

Each liveable space in a rental home must have at least one openable windows or an exterior door to offer natural airflow. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan to eliminate moisture.

The ventilation quality is all about acknowledging it is that the dry atmosphere is much easier to heat, and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to grow mould and damp.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway aren’t liveable , and thus don’t require an opening window or door.

Each door, window or skylight needs for them to be in a position to open to the outside, but remain set in an opening position to allow to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other room in your home with a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other water-generating appliance will need proper extractor fan systems which are vented towards the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces that includes extractor fans that are suitable in high moisture areas.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A cozy dry home is a healthy home

Insulation Plimmerton

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is a requirement on all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to ensure the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest standard. In some instances, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space might need to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated house can reduce condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness, and also makes much easier to the house to hold warmth.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values of your area.

The "R" stands for thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well insulation can withstand heat flow. The higher the R-value, the better the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

Find out all the details about the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Plimmerton Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from water damage isn’t only about the interior of the building it’s also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain as well as groundwater to move and stop it from coming inside. When it is about damp and water, it is often those concerns that you aren’t aware of that could be a huge problem, causing damages to your investment and harming the tenant’s well-being.

Properties that are rented must have efficient drainage to get rid of rainwater, storm water, and ground water, including the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water is able to go, and that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is a crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent moisture from entering, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between the floor and ground, a ground water barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is usually a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, in order to block any moisture present in the ground from getting into the property. It also assists in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Plimmerton

Areas of rental properties that are impacted by the Healthy Homes Standard in Plimmerton include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Plimmerton for Rental Properties

There are many concerns to check when conducting a house inspection to determine whether your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Is the space under the floor covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need replenishment or replacement?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught stopping?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy Home with regard to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of an tenant services ruling can have a significant impact for property managers and landlords. For expert advice, call today to schedule your rental property house assessment.